Detroit snaps men’s hoops home winning streak

The Detroit Titans ended the CMU men’s basketball
team’s 14-game home winning streak on Wednesday
winning 77-68.

The Chippewas (3-5 overall) dropped their third
straight game, only shooting 35 percent from the
floor.

“Both teams battled hard. I am pleased with our
effort, we played extremely hard,” said CMU Head Coach
Jay Smith. “The difference was is that they made shots
and we missed them.”

Greg Grays and Willie Green paced the Titans throwing
in 24 and 28 points. The 28 for Green was his
career-high.

“They hit tough shots, I give them a lot of credit,”
Smith said.

CMU shot one-for-nine from 3-point range as David
Webber made the only trey within the opening minute of
the first half. CMU jumped out to an early 15-9 lead,
paced by Webber’s seven early points.

Detroit came back to take a 10-point lead on 11 points
by both Green and Gray.

CMU cut the lead to eight at the half 33-25.

“Last year’s team could smell the runs and were able
to put them out, we are not at the point defensively
to put them out,” Smith said.

The Chippewas made a second half run in the second
half led by Whitney Robinson, seven points by Robinson
and two by Gerrit Brigitha cut the Detroit lead to
37-39. Detroit then pulled down three straight
offensive rebounds in a row before Webber fouled
Terrell Rigs. Rigs made the first free throw and
missed the second; CMU’s Chad Pleiness and Mike
Manciel fought for the rebound and kicked the ball out
of bounds giving it back to Detroit. Green sunk and
3-pointer and then nailed a jumper building the lead
back up to eight.

The lead stayed around 15 points before CMU started
cutting into it with 2:26 to go.
Webber added five points and Tony Bowne off from the
bench sunk to free throws to cut the lead to nine.
Robinson then nailed a 3-pointer with 1:05 to play the
closest they would get.

“We had great looks at the basket they just didn’t go
in. We shot 28.1 percent in the first half. I think I
could have shot 28.1 percent with my left hand,” Smith
said.

Webber led the team with 22 points followed by
Robinson with 18.

With Webber’s 22 he moves into fourth all time on
CMU’s scoring list. He passes Don Edwards mark of
1,402. He has 1,412, next up Ben Kelso with 1,627.
Chris Kaman didn’t play he is out with a stress
fracture in his right foot.

“We are holding him out until conference play,” Smith
said.